Waterless gasholder



Jan. 5, 1937. P, M, KUEHN 2,066,353 I WATERLESS GASHOLDER Original Filed Sept. 9, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 nventor .M'izeZzz l (Ittornegs.

Jam 5, 1937- P. M. KUEHN WATERLESS GASHOLDER 'original Filed sept. 9, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Gttoxfnegs,

Patented Jan. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES y' PArsNir #oF-FICE WATERLESS GASHOLDER Paul M. 1Kuelm, Baltimoragll/Id., assigner; by

mesne assignments, to,-Koppers `Companmta l .corporation of Delaware Application September 9, 1932, SerialNo; 632,446

1'- Renewed Marcl'25, 1936 4 Claims.

This invention pertains to waterless gas holders andmore particularly to the sealing means ers of the type abovespecied and located be tween the piston closure and the movable'sealing means. I

A further object is to provide'a'vertical series arrangement cf the movable sealingelements and preferably with the statically actuated element intermediate twometallic ones.

The invention is susceptible of modification and several embodiments are herein disclosed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of so much of the shell, piston closure and sealing means as is necessary to an understanding of the invention;

Fig. 2, a perspective view of such parts as are seen from the interior of the shell; and

Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, vertical sectional views illustrative of two modications.

Referring iirst to Figs. 1 and 2, I3 denotes the shell of the holder and I I the piston-like closure therefor.

A gutter for the sealing medium or liquid surrounds the piston, being defined by the vertical wall I2 of the piston, plate I3, and the flexible element iii. This latter extends upwardly and is secured to the lower rubbing bar or element I5 by bolts IS which pass through said members and a clamping plate Il. The bolts also pass through the upper portion of a spacer member I8 employed to hold the canvas element I4 out of rubbing contact with the wall of the shell as the piston moves relatively to the shell.

Located above the rubbing bar or shoe I5 is a second metallic shoe I9 and the adjacent spaced edges of said members are chamfered or cut away on an arc to produce a seat for a packing and rubbing element 29, preferably of round cross section, which extends through the space between the edges of the shoes and contacts the inner wall of the shell.

A flexible backing and sealing strip 2l bears against the inner portion of the member 20 and fits-lower andupper: portions are tightly-'secured tothe shoes I 5 `and I 9; respectively, 1 by clamping 4Vpla'tes'22 and 23 and boltsl designated generally by 24. f By this arrangement there is produced a vertically. disposedA series of rubbing elements, .g ft-wo 'metallici andA yan''intermediate one'formed fromany'suitable material.

'Strip2l,'it will be noted,^insuresv the. integrity 'of the outerrwall of thezgutter andsnoiiiuid` mais7 `pass' therefrom `other than that lwhich' passes.

downwardly between the shoesfand the'shellyentering first Vbetween' thev upper.:bar I9 and v'the @shellVA Strip 2lvbeingforme'd from flexiblenmaterial will move outwardrrund'er thestaticfhead offthe iiuid sealing medium which in-practicezextendsup ktofthe level-indicatedjbythe line a,^Fig. 1.

"The rubbing-.bar structure'sis sustained :and

' forced'outwardly'by afseriesrofweighted levers125 fulcrumed at 2li'v ion" "the outer rends ,offs armsif 2l secured at their inner ends to ftheliwall `ofthe piston. The lower ends of the levers 25 extend downwardly between a pair of bracket members 28 and 29, the levers being fulcrumed at their lower end upon through pins 39 which extend through the brackets, through spacing collars 3I 32, and the lower end of the lever. The upper portions of the brackets are provided with arcuate slots through which, and through the lever, passes a pin or rod 33, which construction tends to guide the parts and relieve the pin 39 from undue strain.

The lever construction in and of itself is old. 'I'he brackets 28 and 29 are secured to the lower and upper rubbing bars I5 and I9 respectively by bolts which pass through ears 34 and 35 which extend laterally from the brackets.

It will be appreciated, of course, that the weighted levers rocking upon the fulcrums 25 will force the rubbing bar structure outwardly into close contact with the inner wall of the shelL-this being permitted by the ilexibility of the gutter element I4. At the same time the lever forces the structure as a whole outwardly into facewise contact with the inner face of the shell, the static head of the sealing medium will, acting through the strip 2|, force the packing member outwardly into Contact with the shell.

In Fig. 3 a slight modification is shown, the rubbing bars in this instance corresponding to the rubbing bars I5 and I9 of Figs. 1 and 2 being designated by I5a and |95. They are secured to the brackets with which the weighted levers cooperate in a manner as heretofore set forth. The adjacent edges of these bars are separated a suitable material. Y

struction, a. cover sheet 31 of flexible material, j

distance considerably more than that indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 and instead of employing a round sealing element or shoe a block-like structure 36 is introduced into the space between the adjacent edges of therubbing shoes kor bars. This block may be formed of wood, metal or` other As under the former conof these members are flangedy so as to produce a pocket inwhich is mounted a rubbing block or shoe, as 36a. 'I'his block is provided with an inwardly extending stem 38. A cover "strip of canvas or other flexible material 39 is secured to the inner faces of the members |51 and |91?. and bears against the inner end of the stemor projection 38. Acotter pin 40 may be present in order to facilitate assembly of theparts and to prevent the block from dropping outof f place during assembly. As with the other constructions, the strip, 39 is subject to staticvpressure and forces the block 36 outwardly.` It also prevents leakage of the sealing kmedium from the :gutter'outwardly between the various shoes so that the sealing medium` must pass downwardly between the upper shoe I9b (or I9 as ini'Fig. 3) and the inner surface of the shell. In thi way a tight seal is effected. i

No claim is made herein to the broad'combination of a series of rubbing .bars or shoes standing in vertical relation and associated with a gutter as that subject matter is claimed in my copend- Ving application led September 9, 1932, Serial Number 632,445.

Reference has heretofore been made to a liquid sealing medium. For this purpose tar, oils, or any material which will form a tight seal between the rubbing bar and the inner face of the shell may be employed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a waterless gas holder, the combination of a shell; a piston-like closure mounted therein; y

a pair of rubbing bars'standing in vertical spaced relation designed to coact with the shell; means -for forcing said bars into contact with the shell; a-sealing element located between the adjacentA edges of said rubbing bars and likewise bearing against the inner surface of the shell; and flex# l ment and closing off said element from the gutter ible means lying to the rear of said sealing eleand acting as a transmitting element to exert the static pressure of the sealing medium within the gutter upon said sealing element to force the same outwardly into contact with the shell. 2. A structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sealing element has the form of a block j against which the flexible means bears.

3. In a waterless gas holder, the combinationy of a shell; a piston-like closure mounted therein; a gutter for sealing medium extending around medium to said sealing element.

4. A structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein the sealing element is substantially round in` cross section.- n

PAUL M. KUEHN. y 

